“There was a time when I was 23 years old that I thought my career was over because I couldn’t move my hand. It turned out it was just a pinched nerve. But Archie Goodwin, the [Marvel] editor at the time, made sure that when I went to the doctor, I was covered for medical bills. I didn’t have health coverage then. I try to pay it forward. I do a lot of philanthropic and charity work. Some of my greatest awards, greatest rewards, have not been for comic work, but for charity work. Like art — thank you’s for money raised — from children in the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Photos from their wishes coming true. They’ll laminate it into a plaque that I can hang on the wall. I cherish those. I was actually the subject of a wish once, a child wanted to meet me. Me, out of all the things he could have wished for. Good gosh, that is something that I will never forget.”

Today sees the release on on comiXology of Masks and Mobsters #5 , the latest issue of the digital series by Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson. Not only does it feature a special holiday story, but the creators are also being awesome and donating everything they make off the issue to charity. Henderson and Williamson (who shared with us on Sunday what he’s been reading) were kind enough to answer some of my questions about the series and their plans for this special issue, as well as reveal a whole bunch of art.

The DC Women Kicking Ass blog is running through its own 12 Days of Christmas, with a twist. Each day, Sue adds a new, superhero-related gift (like autographed comics, clothing, rare action figures, etc.), but the best part is that readers have the opportunity to win all 12 by simply donating to Toys for Tots.

Participants can email Sue (with “Toys For Tots entry” in the subject line) either a receipt (for credit card donations) or a picture of them dropping a toy into a donation box. She allows up to three entries per person, but needs a separate receipt or photo for each entry. At the end of the 12th day (she started Dec. 5, so that’s Dec. 16 by my calculation), Sue will pick a grand gift-winner and one runner-up and ship out the prizes. It’s a clever and cool contest for a great cause, so please consider joining in.

Hurricane Sandy left a wake of devastation across the East Coast last week, and following the superstorm’s destruction come efforts to help those who were affected by it. One of the great things about the comic industry is that there are always people who work in it willing to do what they can to help people out, and this time is no different.

Art for Sandy Relief is an effort by Rich Ginter and Jim Viscardi. Viscardi currently works at Marvel in New York, while Rich left Marvel earlier this year to take a job as a digital designer in Disney’s publishing department in Glendale, Calif. He made the move to California just two months before the hurricane hit his former home.

Both gentleman were kind enough to answer some questions about the initiative. Before getting into it, though, their first art auctions went live today, and you can head over to eBay to bid on them now. Rich also shares some other ways that you can help out below, either via direct donation, by donating art or just by spreading the word.

In the wake of the tragic shootings in July in Aurora, Colorado, Jason Farnsworth of All C’s Collectibles organized Aurora Rise, a benefit for the victims that drew creators like Matt Fraction, Mike Mignola and Steve Niles and publishers like Image Comics, Skybound, Dark Horse and Top Cow productions. The August fundraiser generated more than $20,000 in just two days. However, Farnsworth didn’t stop there.

Now Aurora Rise is no longer just a weekend-long event, but rather an organization dedicated to assisting those “victims of the theater shooting who still need surgery, who still need to see doctors, who can’t afford their medical bills, or who have taken a financial hit from lost wages.”

As part of its continuing efforts, Aurora Rise has teamed with Enormous creators Tim Daniel and Mehdi Cheggour for an interesting new fundraiser: A $5 donation to the organization will enter you for a chance to be featured on the cover of Enormous #5, debuting in October 2013. One male and one female will be selected at random to be depicted being chased by a giant monster.

For seven years Andy Mangels and a host of supporters have put on Women of Wonder Day to benefit domestic violence prevention and intervention charity programs. This year’s events take place tomorrow in Portland, Ore. and San Antonio, Texas, but even if you aren’t close enough to attend one of them, you can still get in on the fun and help out via a series of eBay auctions.

First off, on eBay, you’ll find artwork by Ryan Kelly (above), George Perez, Tom Yeates, Pete Woods and many more, along with autographed scripts by Brian Michael Bendis and several DVD collections. The two stores hosting events–Excalibur Comics in Portland and Heroes and Fantasies in San Antonio–have their own auctions going on, as well as in-store signings, giveaways and costumed visitors.

Artist Mike Wieringo and Marvel editor Mark Gruenwald passed away more than a decade apart, but both of them died on Aug. 12–now known as “M Day.” To celebrate the lives of both men, Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort has set up a fundraiser on Razoo.com for the Hero Initiative.

“This year, we’d like the celebrate the spirit of generosity and camaraderie amongst the comic book community that both of these creators embodied by encouraging their friends and fans to make a donation to the Hero Initiative,” Brevoort wrote. “The Hero Initiative is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping out those members of the comic book creative community who have fallen on hard times financially. Assistance from the Hero Initiative has made a difference in the lives and situations of many great practitioners of our art. This is something that we believe both Mark and Mike would be behind.”

Spectral Motion has done all sorts of cool conceptual work, make-up and animatronics for the Hellboy movies, X-Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four and several others, but their coolest project to date may be the two recent visits they hosted for two kids in conjunction with the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

In the past three weeks, Spectral Motion has been honored to host two wonderful Make-A-Wish children, Caleb and Zachary. Zachary loved his visit for two very special reasons. It was Zachary’s wish to meet Hellboy and also to become Hellboy. When the Make-A-Wish Foundation contacted Spectral Motion with this request, Mike thought it would be fantastic to have Ron Perlman reprise his role for the day. Ron loved the idea and donned the makeup once more (with the assistance of Lufeng Qu and Eden Elizalde) and also ordered a Hellboy sized meal of burgers, shakes, and fries for Zachary and his family and the entire Spectral crew to enjoy. Later in the day, Zachary was transformed into Hellboy with the assistance of makeup artists Lufeng Qu and Neil Winn. Both of the Make-A-Wish days were a complete thrill for the families of the children, as well as for the crew at Spectral Motion!

You can read more about Caleb’s visit here. Seriously, how cool are these guys (and Ron Perlman) for making these visits happen?

The Hero Initiative is accepting donations for Lobo co-creator Roger Slifer, who remains in an induced coma after a hit-and-run incident last month.

The organization will be helping out with medical and financial assistance. You can donate money through PayPal to the Hero Initiative via the “Donate” button at the top of their site or through Network for Good. They’ll also be at booth #5003 at the San Diego Comic-Con next week.

Last week we reported on the moving story behind Critical Care Comics, a new, Las Vegas-based organization that hopes to put comic books in the hands of hospital patients who can use the distraction and inspiration. At the time, I spoke with Jason Golden, the group’s founder about his plans for a fund-drive this past weekend. He was hoping to raise $450 to cover the legal fees around getting the 501(c)3 license needed to operate as a legitimate non-profit organization.

Jason emailed me yesterday to report on how the event went: “Saturday was a blast. The day started at 4 am with KTNV Channel 13 News escorted by Darth Vader (which was really a buddy of mine who owns the sweetest Darth Vader costume I have ever seen). The bands were all excellent; the comedians were great. The event lasted well past 11 pm.”

You can check out the KTNV interview with Golden (and Vader) at the channel’s website, but the important news is the success of the drive. Golden reports that they brought in over 4000+ comics and – through sales of homemade shirts and a bake sale – almost $500, enough funds to start the paperwork on the license.

Jason Golden’s life was saved by comics, and he wants to give othes the chance to have that same experience. A little while ago, hesent the following letter to some comics publishers, and it found its way to my inbox.

Stronger

Hi guys,

Near the end of my sophomore year in high school, I was diagnosed with Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia. It was a rather hard time for me. I was in and out of the hospital for over a year. Completely missed my junior year in high school. With the support of my friends and family, and the excellent care I received, I pulled through and live a normal happy life.

There were times though, in the hospital, when I was alone, depressed, and just downright feeling crappy. Two things helped me during those times: video games and comic books. Every Wednesday my parents would swing by my comic book shop and pick up my latest books.

Signing and drawing on body parts isn’t unheard of at comic conventions (breasts being one of the most popular parts), but Ben Templesmith has joined artists from many different fields to draw, paint and sculpt on breasts (or casts of them, anyway) for an excellent cause.

To launch its branch in Japan, the Keep a Breast Foundation breast cancer awareness group is hosting The Tokyo Love Show, an exhibit that brings together the largest collection so far of the foundation’s breast casts. Templesmith and more than 100 other artists from around the world have decorated the casts, with “love” as a unifying theme. The castees are also an international group, illustrating the need for global awareness about breast cancer.

Up for auction are pieces by Karl Kesel (above), Sergio Aragones, Bill Watterson, Gary Trudeau, Pat Oliphant, Evan Dorkin, Bill Amend, Roger Langridge, David Malki, Mort Walker and many more. The auctions started on Monday and will run for two weeks.